when there's something strange in the neighbourhood

[triggeringbiggering]

[ WHO ]: Everyone who replied to the IC plotting post! Feel free to jump in if you talk it over with the group you're hoping to join, though!
[ WHERE ]: First off all over the apartments, then to the grocery store!
[ WHEN ]: From noon on March 5th!
[ OPEN/CLOSED? ]: OPEN!
[ RATING ]: PG (for now, will edit if anything big shows up)
[ WARNINGS ]: Some ghosts will be present, so violence or disturbing imagery may crop up!
[ NOTES ]: I will be posting to the body of the entry with the pairs of people and a link to the two sub comments for people to jump into! Please click it cut for more info.


In the apartments, the pairs will be:

Tian (nurturing) and Kai (blitzkrieging) - taking the first and second floor
Mika (wolfishsurvivalist) and Yosuke (andallforone) - taking the third and fourth floor
Peko (tooled) and Karkat (carcinogenetics) and Naoki (demonish) - fifth and sixth floor
Once-ler (triggeringbiggering) and Garry (fraternal) - seventh and eighth floor!

As Naoki is on hiatus due to internet problems, Karkat and Peko should wait near the stairwell of the fifth floor before heading off. Naoki can catch up ICly when the hiatus ends, if they're still up for being a part of the log! :)

In the grocery store, anyone who wants to come along should just jump into the thread. No structure, though posting orders may be arranged. ICly, this will come after the thread in the apartments.

The group will be using the Once-ler's apartment (301) is the base for the operations. Characters will meet in there (having been told in the IC planning post) and can return here if chased. The walls of this apartment are lined with old strips of red tape. They work fine so long as they aren't touched, which will cause them to just flake off.

Any comments or concerns please feel free to send me a PM or a private plurk (I have them open to non-friended accounts) at mydarkrosaline)!

Comments

[nurturing]

[The mage's dead eyes misses that look completely, calmly nodding in agreement.]

Certainly. Where would you prefer to start?

[selfism]

We're already here, so we may as well start on the second floor.

[ That said, he crosses the hall to the nearest door and tries to open it. The doorknob rattles but it is locked. Dranzer could put a hole in the door easily...and likely draw all the spirits to their location in seconds. ]

You any good with locks?

[nurturing]

Ah, I believe so. It depends on the magic of this place, however.

[Feeling his way to the doorknob, Tian uses a simple cantrip of opening locks. However, it doesn't seem to work.]

Oh my. Perhaps not.

[selfism]

[ Kai watches this with no small amount of curiosity. ]

Any suggestions?

[ They could move on to the next door, but if all of the apartments are similarly locked, this will have been a complete waste. ]

[nurturing]

Hm. Some doors might be locked for a reason.

[He feels the doorframe, delicate finders tracing the crack between wall and door.]

Perhaps we should move on.

[selfism]

[ Wordlessly, Kai crosses the hall to the opposite side and tries the next door. Though it isn't locked, it takes some force to shoulder it open. The smell of sulfur sits heavily in the entranceway. ]

[nurturing]

[Tian calmly follows, but he frowns as he senses the sulfur smell. Leaning his head a bit to the side, he listens for flames.]

How does it seem?

[selfism]

[ He peers around the open door, avoiding actually stepping inside. ]

Normal. The smell is worrying.

[ In case of a fire... ]

How fast are you able to move if there's danger?

[nurturing]

I agree. Is there anything flammable?

[Fire was alive, but not in the sense that Tian could control it. That was a fire mage's aspect.]

I can move as quick as any normal human man, but age has dulled my reflexes a bit.

[He calmly admits.]

I am a healer rather than a fighter.

[selfism]

Useful, [ he remarks sincerely. Though he doesn't know the extent of Tian's abilities as a healer, he's confident that the man will be a good ally. ] I'll keep us covered then, if things get dicey.

[ That said, he eases open the door completely, keeping Tian's question about flammable objects in mind as he studies the room. Nothing appears particularly vulnerable to catching fire, and he says so aloud. ]

I'm going in.

[nurturing]

Very well.

[Tian gently coaxes the vines in his hair to grow longer and more sturdy, knotting into thick ropes and coiling around his body.]

I will pull you back, if needed. Your life is more precious than any food or equipment we can find.

apologies for slow tags, i have been very sick!

[selfism]

[ Kai looks back at Tian to ask what the man means by "pull you back" and then stills, eyeing his body. That's certainly a neat trick. ]

Our lives could be on the line without the food, in the long run, [ he points out, but...his tone is warmer now. Though he'd prefer not to have to rely on anyone else, he's beginning to feel that Tian may be very dependable. ] Going in.

[ He slides into the apartment, a hand almost immediately moving to cover his mouth and nose with his scarf; the stench of sulfur is almost unbearable now, heavy and thick. Peering cautiously around doors into other rooms to check for creatures and danger, he lets edges closer and closer to the kitchen unit. ]

No problem at all, I've been really slow myself!

[nurturing]

[There's a slight nod from the mage as Kai mentions their need for food. He was right, of course - but it was still unnecessary to take risks in a place like this.

Listening closely, Tian counts the steps that Kai takes, a focused look of concentration on his face.

The vines around him twist a bit, some opening up into flowers as the blind man waits for any signs.]

Re: No problem at all, I've been really slow myself!

[selfism]

[ Reaching the kitchen with suspiciously little fanfare, he takes a moment to make certain that Tian is still there in the hall. Then, steeling his expression, he opens the first cabinet he sees and peers inside. Nothing greets him but dust and cobwebs. The remaining cabinets and drawers yield similarly disappointing results. As he's about to move on, he notices that the refrigerator door is slightly open. Gaze narrowed, he nudges it with his foot. ]

...I'm going to suggest we try another room.

[ He quietly closes the refrigerator door on the severed body parts, feeling ill. The moment the door clicks shut, however, is the moment one of the adjourning bedroom doors opens. ]

[nurturing]

As you wish. The opposite apartment?

[The mage asks, before he stops himself. Listening, Tian turns his face towards the door that just opened, hoping to intercept any form of danger.]

Hello?